Grain separator



April 9, 1929.

R. G. QUEHL GRAIN SEPARATOR Filed Jan. 2 192.4

4 Sheets-Sheet.

ale/21 April 9, 1929. R. G. QUEHL 1,708,325

GRAIN SEPARATOR Filed Jan 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 9, 1929. QUE'HL 1,708,325

GRAIN SEPARATOR Filed Jam 2, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 9, 1929. R. G. QUEHL GRAIN SEPARATOR Filed Jan- 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

, UNITED stares RICHARD G. QUEHL, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

GRAIN SEPARATOR.

Application filecl January 2, 1924. Serial No. 683,892.

My invention relates to grain separators of the general type disclosed and broadly claimed in the Carter Patent No. 1,364,247, of January 4, .1921, and provides certain modifications of or improvements on the said Carter patent, with a view of obtaining closed at their inner sides and open at their outer sides and are arranged to receive certam kinds of material, such as wheat, and to reject other kinds of material, such as oats. In my improved machine, the peel etl" ll blt l ea p H-LQS are connected to encess e s ant are arranged to travel through receiving hoppers or containers, and, in cooperation with other devices, operate to separate wheat from oats, for example. The use of the machine is not, however, limited'to the separation of wheat and oats, but, like the machine of the said Carter patent, is capable of general use for the separation of objects that vary, not so much in size as in relative proportions of Width and length.

A machine embodying my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views. 1

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section ta en centrally through the complete machine;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken approximately on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4B is a horizontal section on the line l-'-l of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 isan enlarged horizontal section on the line 55 of Fig. 1, some parts being broken away;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary transverse'section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section on the same line as Fig. 1, showing parts that appear at the right on Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a perspective showing one of the belt sections with several pocketed scparatmg plates applied thereto;

Fig. 10 is a transverse section illustrating a slightly modified form of the carrying belt; and i' i Fig. 11 is a fragmentary section on the line'11-1l of Fig. 10.

The casing of this machine is a vertically elongated endless structure open at its center and made up of laterally spaced side plates 12 and a connecting shell 13, which latter has semi-cylindrical top and bottom portions and vertical intermediate portions. This casing, as shown, is rigidly secured on a base frame 14-.

The casing 12-13, in horizontal cross section, is channchshaped, with the open sides of the channels of two legs facing inward or the one toward the other; and the endless belt with pocketed separating plates is ar ranged to run within the endless channel of said casing.

This carrying belt is preferably made up of a plurality of link plates or metallic belt sections 15 connected by hinge joints 1% and arranged to run over lower and upper sprocket-l ke wheels 17 and 18 secured, respectively, to shafts 19 and 20. The shaft 1.) is journaled in bearing brackets 21 and the shaft is journaled in bearings 22 that are adjustably mounted in the upper portions of the bearing brackets 21 and are subject to adjusting screws 23, (see Fig. l). The shaft 19 is a driving shaft and is shown as provider with a pulley 2a over which a po.\'er'-driven belt 2% is adapted to run.

The belt plates or sections 15 are provided with rigidly secured separatin plates 25 that project therefrom in parallel vertical planes. The separating plates 25 that are in the same vertical plane will together, edge to edge. in perfect alignn when traveling verti .lly, but will separate divergently in passing under the lower and over the upper sprocket wheels; and to insure such perfect alignment, the abutting edges of said plates are formed with V-shaped bevels, the one being convex and the other being concave, (see particularly igs. 1 and Preferably, the plates 25 are made rectangular in marginal outline and they are provided in opposite faces with pockets 26. which, like the pockets of the machine of the prior Carter patent, 'will receive materials such as wheat but will reject materials such as oats. For an important purpose, which will hereinafter appear, the belt plates 15, at their lower hinge joints, con sidered in respect to the upwardly moving portion of the belt, are provided with oblique flanges 27 that extend between the separating'plates 25. The numerals 28 incontainers 31.

' reference particularly to Fi 2, it will be Cir noted that the intermediate containers 31 deliver in opposite directions against the pocketed surfaces of two adjacent vertical series of said plates, while the outside containers 31 deliver only against the outer pocketed surfaces of adjacent separating plates.

Located just above each primary container 31 is a repeat hopper 32 that is provided with a depending spout 33, (see Figs. 2 and 3), extended downward through the oblique bottom of the cooperating container and delivering to a secondary container 3 1.

The secondary containers 34 have oblique bottoms arranged like the oblique bottoms of the overlying prnnary containers 31 and are arranged to deliver in a like manner against the adjacent pocketed surfaces of the separating plates. Below the bottoms of the primary containers 31 and above the bottoms of the secondary containers 31 are discharge hoppers 35 that partly surround 'the spouts 33 and are provided with oblique discharge spouts 36, (see Figs. 2, 3 and The purpose and operation of the peculiar hopper and container structure just above described will. more fully appear in the description of the operation. On the downwardly moving side, to wit: on the righthand side as shown in Fig. 1, the casing 1213 is provided with an outwardly offset discharge spout 37 that extends downward from the upper portion thereof and isprovided with upper branch spouts 38 and preferably also with lower branch spouts 39, (see Figs. 5 and 8). The branch spouts 38 are laterally spaced and the branch spouts 39 are laterally spaced, and they are so arranged that said spouts 38 and 39 are located between and on the outer sides of the several vertical series of separating plates.

To guide the extended edges of the separating plates 25 in true alignment and for movements in true vertical planes, the shell 1.3 of the casing is provided on its interior with endless guide channels, which, as shown, are afforded by laterally spaced pairs of. small angle barsor strips 13, (see particularly Figs. 3 and 4).

Located above each primary container 31 is a'spout-like deflecting plate 31, the upper edge of which joins the outer wall and the lower edge of which oins the inner wall of the cooperating primary container 31. As clearly shown in Fig.1, the inner wall of the said primary container 'joinsthe inner wall'of the secondary container and is so spaced from the adjacent belt plates 15 that the oblique flanges 27 of the latter run very close thereto on the upwardly moving side of the belt. The important function performed by the deflecting plates 31 will appear in the description of the operation.

In the construction best illustrated in Fig. 1, the sprocket wheels 17 and 18 are provided with tooth-like projections that engage directly with the rounded hinge joints 15 that connect thevbelt plates 15. In the construction illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11, the belt-forming plates 15 are socured to a heavy canvas beltAO that forms the hinge joints between sair plates, and the. said plates 15 are secured to links 11 of sprocket chains that are adaptedto run over sprocket wheels 17*. In. this arrangement, however, the pocketed separating plates 25-26 are of the same construction as the plates previously designated by the same numerals.

' Operation.

Assuming the machine to be used for the separation of the commingled wheat and oats, the follows:

The connningled wheat and oats, generally known as succotaslnwill be supplied to the hopper-'29 and from thence will be gravityfed through the several spouts 31) into the several primary containers 31 and, by the oblique bottoms of the latter, will be kept pressed against the pocketed surfaces of the separating plates 25, so that the said separating plates 'move constantly upward through a very considerable body of said commingled grain or sucrotash. The belt that carries the separating plates will move in a clockwise direction in respect to Fig. 1, so that the separating plates 25 will move upward through the body of succotash in the several rontainers; and here it, should be noted that the primary containers on opposite sides of the ver ticalseries of pocketed separating plates cooperate to hold a mass of succotash through which said separating plates constantly move. The pockets 26 of the separating plates are only of such depth and formation as to catch and operation thereof is substantially as hold the wheat, use are notdeep enough to catch and hold the oats, so that the latter, upon entering the pockets, will be turned over and swept quickly out of the same, leaving only the wheat in the pockets. The result of this constantly repeated action is that the poskets of the.;separating plates will be loaded with wheat that will be carried vertically upward to points past the deflecting plates 31 while the oats will be constantly thrown back into the primary containers and will accumulate until there is an overflow thereof into the repeat hop-per 32. The oats thus overflowing into the repeat hopper 32 may contain a small percentage of wheat, but such overflow will be directed through the spout 33 into the underlying secondary containers 34, where the wheat, which naturally works to the bottom, will be again presented to the pockets 26 01 the upwardly moving separatingplates and by said pockets will be taken out of the oats and carried upward and again through the primary containers. \Vhen the oats in the secondary containers accumulates sufficiently, there will be an overflow thereof into the discharge hoppers 35 and, 'f'romthe latter, the oats separated from the wheat will be discharged from the machine through the discharge spouts 36.

- The manner in which the oats are separated from the wheat and discharged from the machine has now been completely traced, but the handling of the wheat should be further considered. First, it is important to note that the separating plates, with their pockets loaded with wheat, will be given true vertical movements, as distinguished from angular or rotary movements, upward to points above the deflecting plates 31 so that all of the pockets receive exactly .the same motion and there will be no tendency for any of the pockets to discharge the wheat until they have reached positions above the said deflecting plate. As. the separating plates pass well above said deflecting plate, the former will be given angular or rotary motion as the belt makes its turn over the upper sprockets, and there will then be a progressively increasing tendency of the separating plates to discharge the wheatfrom their pockets. Any wheat discharged from the pockets above said deflecting plate 31 will fall either onto said deflecting plate or onto the belt plates 15. lVheat falling either onto said deflecting plate or onto the belt plates, will be caught by the flanges 27 and positively carried upward and over'with the belt and will be delivered to the branch spouts 38. Before the separating plates closely approach the branch spouts 38, all of the wheat will be discharged from the pockets thereof. Nearly all of the wheat will be caught by the upper branch spouts 38, but if there should be some leakage between of the pocketed separating plates, while performing the separating action as between the wheat and oats or other articles of different formation, as already. indicated, produces a like and constant separation at "all parts of the plates, and this feature permits the plates to be run at high velocity. Obviously, once the wheat is carried above the deflecting plate 31, it cannot possibly reunite. with the oats. This arrangement provides a machine of very high capacity, which, at the same time, will perform a high grade of separation.

In the arrangement above described, the so-called secondary containers and the cooperating instrumentalities for returning a part of the commingled material that has been imperfectly separated back to the separating action of the pocketed plates, affords a highly eflieientrepeat or recleaning device, and it is obvious that this rapid separation may be carried outat any desired extent by the provision of a third or a fourth container and return channels leading thereto. Also, it is evident that the endless belts may be made of any desired length and that such belt or belts may be equipped with any desired number of series of pocketed separating plates.

From a broad point of view, the invention involves the use of pocketed separating plates that move on straight lines, as distinguished from curved lines, which change the angle of the plates in respect to a vertical during the separation operation; therefore, it will be understood that certain of the claims of this case are directed to this feature as broadly as just stated.

The pocketed separating plates move in definite planes from lower to upper positions, and these planes are herein broadly indicated by the statement that they are approximately vertical planes, but, of course, said planes need not be truly vertical planes.

V hat I claim is:

1. A separator of the kind described comprising a container for the material to be separated, and an endless train of flexibly associated fiat pocketed separating plates mounted to move always in a common plane on an endless course, means for holding said plates edgewise in close association while moving upward to produce the separating action, but permitting-said plates to separate edgewise in making return movements, the pockets in said plates being arranged to receive certain kinds of material from the commingled mass and to eject other kinds of materials, the discharge of materialfrom turning to said containers.

side of the plate to which they were received but at a point higher up.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 1 in further combination with means operative at the side of the plates noted to receive the material from said pockets and'to maintain the separation of materials thus eflected.

3. The structure I defined in claim 1 in further combination with a deflector above which the selected material. iscarried by the pockets. of said plates, said deflector serving to prevent return of the selected material to the commingled machine.

4;.Tl18 structure defined in claim 1 in further combination with a secondary container located below the first noted or primary container, and anoverflow from said.

primary to said secondary container.

5. The structure defined in claim 1 in further combination with a secondary container located below the first noted or primary container, and an overflow from-said primary to said secondary container, said secondary container having an overflow discharge spout leading therefrom.

6. The structure defined in claim 1 in further combination with a deflector above which the material in the pockets is carried by said plates while moving on a straight line, said deflector serving to prevent the selected material from returning to said containers. 7.. The structure defined in claim 1 in further combination with a secondary container located below the first noted or primarycontainer, and an overflow from said primary to said secondary container, and a deflector above which the selected material is carried by said plates, said deflector serving to prevent the selected material from re- 8. The structure defined in claim 1 in further combination with a secondary container located below the first noted 01' primary container, and an overflow from said primary to said secondary container, said secondary container having a discharge spout leading therefrom, and a deflector above which the selected material is carried by said plates, said deflector serving to pre vent the selected material from returning to said containers. 9.- The structure defined in claim 1 in further combination with means operative at the side of the plato'noted to'rcceive the material from said pockets and to maintain the separation of the materials thus effected. 10. The structure defined in claim 1 in further combination with a deflector above which theselected material is carried by said pockets, said deflector serving to prevent the return of the selected material to thecommingled mass. 7

mosses 11. The structure defined in claim 1 in further combination with a secondary container located below the first noted or primary container, and an overflow fromsaid primary to said secondary container, said secondary container having a discharge passage leading therefrom 5 for the discharge of the rejected material.

12. The structure defined in claim 1 in furthercombination with a secondary container located below the first noted or priand the discharge passage therefromis on the opposite side.

'14. 'llhe structuredefined in claim 1 in which the inlet to said container is located on one oft-he vertical sides of said casing and the discharge passage therefrom is on the opposite side, the saidbelt having flanges movable past said container and deflector and operative to catch certain of the selected'material and carry the same over the top of the belt to said discharge passage.

'15. The structure defined in claim 1 in which the inlet to said container is located on one of the vertical sides of said casing and, the discharge passage therefrom is on the opposite side, i the said belt having flanges movable past said container and deflector and operative to catch certain of the selected material and carry the same over the top of the beltto said discharge passage, and in further combination with upper and lower catch spouts extended inward i'rom said discharge passage and located adjacent to the downwardly moving separating plates. V 1

16.'The structure defined in claim 1 in which the separating plates of said belt are secured to the belt sections at one edge only so that they may be given angular movements atthe upper and lower turnsot the belt. v

17. The structuredefined in claim 1 in which belt ismade' up of hingedly connected plates and in which said separating plates are secured to the belt plates'at one edge only. I

18. The structure'defined in claim 1 in which the belt is made up of hingedly connected plates and in which said separating plates are secured to the belt plates at one edge only, the said casing having onits inner surface channels that uide the proplates are secured to the belt plates at one jecting edges of said separating plates and edge only, and in which the said separating hold the same to travel in a common vertical plates have abutting edges formed with self- 10 plane. aligning interlapping joints.

19. The structure defined in claim 1 in In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. which the belt is made up of hingedly connected plates and in which said separating RICHARD G. QUEHL. 

